Cerebellar cysts in children: a pattern recognition approach

Cerebellum. 2015 Jun;14(3):308-16. doi: 10.1007/s12311-014-0633-9.

Abstract

Cerebellar cysts may be seen in selected genetic disorders and acquired anomalies. Here, we review our experience, excluding cystic tumors and parasitic cysts. The pathogenesis is heterogeneous: Cysts may involve/represent normal structures (e.g., Virchow-Robin spaces), be "destructive" (such as in some types of pontocerebellar hypoplasias), "malformative" (such as in some forms of congenital muscular dystrophies and GPR56-related migration disorders), or "disruptive" (such as in some cerebellar dysplasias). The provided checklist may be useful in deciding targeted diagnostic workup.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cerebellar Diseases / pathology
  • Cerebellum / abnormalities
  • Cerebellum / pathology*
  • Child
  • Cysts / pathology*
  • Developmental Disabilities / pathology
  • Humans
  • Muscular Dystrophies / pathology*
  • Nervous System Malformations / pathology

Supplementary concepts

  • Cerebellar Hypoplasia
  • Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia